“For my dreams to take flight, I must study 

 Knowledge brings new light, so I must study” 

These are moving words from “Because I am a girl, I must study,” a poem by Indian activist and poet Kamla Bhasin. The poem illustrates a girl’s sincere desire for her basic right to education. As UNICEF has noted, “129 million girls worldwide do not attend school.” The barriers that prevent girls from attending school are numerous. For some, poverty makes it challenging to afford essentials such as transportation, textbooks, uniforms, or school fees. Others live in environments where cultural practices such as early marriage, unequal gender roles, and negative attitudes about menstruation prevent them from attending school. In many parts of the world, the lack of separate toilets, access to clean water, and proper sanitation is a major barrier to girls’ education. In one of our previous blog posts, we took an in-depth look at these barriers and their impact on girls’ education. In this blog, we now want to explore practical steps and effective strategies to overcome these obstacles to girls' education.

Practical Solutions to Break Barriers in Girls' Education:

1.Economic Empowerment Programs

Community empowerment is key to breaking the cycle of poverty and providing girls with access to education. Empowering a community goes beyond providing financial support and focuses on equipping individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary to take control of their lives. It is unfortunate, but understandable, that families facing economic instability with little or no income often prioritize meeting their basic survival needs over sending their daughters to school. As a result, many girls stay at home to assist with household chores, work outside the home, or are unfortunately forced into early marriages.

Economic empowerment programs aim to address the fundamental economic challenges of communities by providing opportunities for skills development, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy. By equipping individuals, especially women and girls, with the necessary tools and resources, they can overcome economic barriers and invest in education.

Creating opportunities for girls' education worldwide requires empowered teachers

2.Empowering Educators: Opening Doors for Girls' Education 

Teachers play a crucial role in empowering girls to pursue education. However, when teachers hold stereotypes about gender, it can create barriers that keep girls from going to school. These stereotypes lead to unfair treatment and gender discrimination, making it difficult for girls to access quality education and demotivates them in their learning journey. Moreover, numerous studies in different regions have shown that teachers with traditional gender perceptions directly affect girls' performance, causing them to underperform compared to boys.

To truly empower girls, we need teachers who promote gender equality in their classroom practices. Below are three practical steps to give teachers the tools and knowledge they need to break free from gender bias:

• Provide workshops that help teachers recognize and address their own biases, promoting a better understanding of the importance of gender equality in education. 
• Update teaching materials to promote gender equality and challenge stereotypes in the classroom. 
• Engage them in peer learning: to learn from one another, share experiences, and support each other in implementing classroom practices based on gender-equality. 

A safe and clean learning environment is essential for ensuring girls' education.

3.Building Safe and Inclusive Learning Environments

Creating safe and inclusive learning environments is crucial for ensuring girls' participation in school. This includes building separate toilets, providing clean water, and ensuring proper sanitation facilities for girls. A safe environment protects girls from sexual violence, harassment, and health issues, especially during their menstrual cycle. By building schools that meet the specific needs of girls, they can feel safe, respected and empowered to focus on their education.

4.Establishing Community-led Mentorship Networks

Establishing community-based mentorship networks is an effective solution to support girls in their educational journey. These networks connect girls with mentors from their own communities who provide guidance, support, and inspiration. Through mentorship, girls gain valuable knowledge, skills, and resources, improving their learning performance, self-confidence, and personal growth. These networks create a sense of belonging and empowerment, enabling girls to overcome barriers in their educational journey. By establishing community-driven mentorship networks, we create a supportive environment where girls can thrive and succeed in their education. 

Each of us holds a piece in overcoming barriers to girls' education.

5.Partnerships for Sustainable Change

Overcoming the barriers to girls’ education requires collaboration among governments, NGOs, communities, individuals, and other stakeholders. By joining forces, we can gather resources, share best practices, and take effective action to bring about a sustainable change in girls’ education. Working together, we can make a lasting impact and create a future where all girls have equal access to education and opportunities for success.

Conclusion 

Addressing barriers to girls’ education is of high importance and requires collective action. At TwoWings, we are committed to improving women and girls’ education worldwide. However, we cannot do it alone. We invite you to become part of this mission. No matter what way you choose to help, whether through volunteering, donating, or spreading awareness you can make a significant difference in the lives of girls who dream of education. Let’s break down barriers, challenge stereotypes, and create a future where everyone has equal access to quality education.